Foster beats Navarrete to unify three world titles

O’Shaquie Foster settled the argument about who rules the super featherweights by putting Emanuel Navarrete down twice in the final round. The Texan won a unanimous decision at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center, retaining his WBC championship and taking the Mexican’s IBF and WBO belts. Two judges returned scores of 118 points to 108, while the third had it 115 points to 111. Navarrete’s determination remained intact, but Foster’s accuracy, defensive judgement and willingness to fight at close quarters gave him command of this unification contest.

Promoted by Top Rank and broadcast on DAZN, the meeting brought together champions with distinctly different approaches to their work. Navarrete, 31, arrived with 40 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw and 33 knockouts, having added the IBF belt by stopping Eduardo Nunez in February. Foster, 33, entered with 25 wins, 3 losses and 12 knockouts after beating Raymond Ford in May. Navarrete weighed the division limit of 130 pounds; Foster registered 129.8. The Mexican had won championships in three divisions. Foster now had the opportunity to gather three major belts in one.

The anticipated contrast between Navarrete’s unconventional aggression and Foster’s more orderly boxing was apparent early, although the American refused to make this simply an exercise in retreat. Navarrete advanced, looking to establish the exchanges in which his hooks and uppercuts are most troublesome. Foster answered with compact punches, then moved before the Mexican could extend his attack. The opening exchanges were competitive, with Navarrete finding opportunities to work downstairs. Foster’s ability to read the incoming punches, however, increasingly allowed him to decide when to exchange and when to leave.

By the fifth, Foster’s counterpunching was becoming the principal feature of the fight. His right hand repeatedly punished Navarrete’s attempts to close the distance. The American was also prepared to punch to the body, preventing the Mexican from concentrating entirely on attacks upstairs. Navarrete continued trying to impose his strength, but Foster’s defence and changes of position made sustained success difficult. When the distance shortened, Foster could still find room for a reply. Navarrete had asked for something more substantial than an evening of exchanged jabs. Foster obliged, while retaining the better judgement about which exchanges to accept.

The second half increasingly favoured Foster. Navarrete remained dangerous, but his attacks were being met by counters rather than unanswered retreat. Foster’s movement helped preserve the distance he wanted, and his body punching added to the Mexican’s difficulties as the rounds accumulated. This was not a performance built solely on avoiding punishment. Foster stood close enough to deliver his own hard punches, then used his defensive skills to reduce the return. Navarrete kept coming, but effort alone could not make Foster remain available for the next combination. The American was gradually turning a difficult stylistic assignment into a clear points advantage.

Navarrete nevertheless produced a serious reminder of his power near the end of the eleventh. An uppercut caught Foster and briefly offered the Mexican encouragement before the last round. Foster absorbed it without going down. “He can punch, but I’ve got a chin,” he said afterwards. It was an important moment because Navarrete still possessed the power to alter the result, even though Foster had done the more consistent work. The American’s response in the twelfth removed any suggestion that the blow had discouraged him.

Foster began the final round aggressively and caught Navarrete during an exchange, forcing him to touch the canvas with a glove. After the count, the Mexican pursued the knockout he needed, trying to turn the closing exchanges into one last opportunity. Foster instead intercepted him with a counter right which produced a second knockdown. Navarrete rose again and completed the distance, but the round had decisively strengthened Foster’s position. The reputed puncher had finished on the receiving end of the contest’s two knockdowns. Foster had combined the safer boxing with the more damaging finish.

The victory improves Foster’s record to 26 wins and 3 losses, with 12 knockouts. Navarrete leaves with 40 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw, with 33 knockouts and a previous no contest. “I knew he was going to be strong and awkward,” Foster said, while crediting his opponent’s championship quality. His immediate ambition is to secure the remaining WBA belt, with Anthony Cacace scheduled to face Nick Ball in December. Charly Suarez may come first as a mandatory challenger. Foster has also spoken about Shakur Stevenson, but completing the championship collection now takes priority.

I thought Foster gave Navarrete a lesson in controlling aggression. O'Shaquie was willing to stand close and answer. He trusted his defence, kept his punches short and made Navarrete pay for those lunging attacks. Stepping out of range is skilful, but making a man hesitate before he comes forward is better. Foster did that with his counter right.

Navarrete’s awkwardness usually forces opponents into mistakes. Here, Foster stayed composed enough to recognise the openings. He stepped off the line when Navarrete reached, worked downstairs and found the uppercut when the Mexican crowded in. My reading is that Navarrete needed a more controlled approach behind his jab. Too often, he tried to solve a problem of positioning by throwing harder. Against someone who can read you and answer immediately, that gets expensive.

I still give Navarrete credit. He kept trying and caught Foster with a dangerous uppercut late on. Foster’s response told me plenty about his temperament: he came out attacking and finished by putting the puncher on the floor. There was no panic and no attempt to coast home.

For me, the unanimous verdict was beyond dispute. Foster showed that his boxing holds up against a strong, unconventional champion, and his success inside mattered as much as his movement outside. He earned this win by making better decisions under pressure. Navarrete’s courage remained, but Foster repeatedly had the better answer.